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| “When eating stewed prunes in public, your pit should be first dropped into your a) plate, b) hand, c) spoon or d) napkin? Answer: c, your spoon. Then deposited on the edge of your plate.” — Photo, Etiquipedia’s private library |
.... to Get Ahead in This New Board Game
Suddenly manners are in. The manners market runneth over with books, newspaper columns, lectures and corporate seminars.
And now “The Official Game of Etiquette: For the Young, For the Upwardly Mobile and Those Who Are Tired of Faking It.” Invented by Frank Scott, a former child actor (Disney’s “The Seeing Eye Dog”) turned stockbroker and now owner of Interstate Security, a San Diego burglar-alarm company.
It’s a Monopoly derivative. It tests your etiquette I.Q. with such questions as:
Scott, 37, researched his 400 questions with standard reference works on etiquette and with a consultant who preaches etiquette to the corporate elite.
The game sells for $24 (manners ain’t cheap, bud). Scott invested $40,000 getting the game produced and marketed.
“All those latchkey kids from the 1960s and 1970s are the yuppies of today, and they realize they don’t know how to act in most social and business situations,” Scott said. “They need this game, even if they don’t know it yet.”— By Anthony Perry, Los Angeles Times, 1989
And now “The Official Game of Etiquette: For the Young, For the Upwardly Mobile and Those Who Are Tired of Faking It.” Invented by Frank Scott, a former child actor (Disney’s “The Seeing Eye Dog”) turned stockbroker and now owner of Interstate Security, a San Diego burglar-alarm company.
It’s a Monopoly derivative. It tests your etiquette I.Q. with such questions as:
- At a clam bar, is it acceptable to suck the clam right off the shell? Yes.
- Because of history and the Pilgrims, is corn on the cob, although messy, still acceptable at a formal dinner? No. Not unless you’re eating with a Pilgrim.
- Is the most important servant in the household the a) oldest, b)chambermaid, c) butler, d) gardener or e) valet? Answer: e, the butler.
- A masseur at a private club should be tipped what percentage of the massage: 10, 15 or 20? Answer: 20.
- When eating stewed prunes in public, your pit should be first dropped into your a) plate, b) hand, c) spoon or d) napkin? Answer: c, your spoon. Then deposited on the edge of your plate.
Scott, 37, researched his 400 questions with standard reference works on etiquette and with a consultant who preaches etiquette to the corporate elite.
The game sells for $24 (manners ain’t cheap, bud). Scott invested $40,000 getting the game produced and marketed.
“All those latchkey kids from the 1960s and 1970s are the yuppies of today, and they realize they don’t know how to act in most social and business situations,” Scott said. “They need this game, even if they don’t know it yet.”— By Anthony Perry, Los Angeles Times, 1989
Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
This sounds great! Where can I purchase one? The information I found says the game is from 1988. Is this a revised edition? I would love to buy one.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is being made anymore, however, I bought 2 on eBay after I found the article. One was opened, but in excellent condition. The other has never been opened. My husband and I are going to play the opened one this evening with family members after dinner. I'd recommend looking on eBay (a few other sellers had some listed when I got mine, but none are currently listed) or on Etsy, etc... There have to be more online. Please let me know if you can't find one. I will be on the lookout for you.
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